DANIEL STURRIDGE must overcome his injury curse and hit top form for Liverpool this season or risks leaving his reputation in tatters, according to Neil Ruddock.

Sturridge started just 11 Premier League games last season after struggling with multiple injuries but did score eight league goals to remind Jurgen Klopp of his abilities when fit.

The 26-year-old appears to have been struck down again after the German manager admitted he was struggling in training on Thursday with a hip injury and was unlikely to feature in the season opener on Sunday against Arsenal (4pm).

And Ruddock, who spent five years at Liverpool as a player, believes that Sturridge cannot afford another stop-start year.